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Chardonnay
2012
Hamilton Russell Vineyards – one of the most southerly wine Estates in Africa and one of the closest to the sea – pioneered viticulture and winemaking in the beautiful, cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. The Estate specialises in producing highly individual, terroir driven Pinot noir and Chardonnay, which are widely regarded as the best in South Africa and among the finest in the New World. Owner, Anthony Hamilton Russell took...
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A warmer harvest than usual, with extremely low yields and longer than usual hang-times. Higher than average rainfall in November and December resulted in the need for careful disease control, but this was successful and 2011 was a logistically easy and high quality harvest for Chardonnay in particular. We experienced lower than average winter rainfall and higher than average rainfall for the period of budbreak to veraison. Rainfall was also higher than average for January and February. This contributed to healthy canopies and absence of stress.
The vines are grown on low-vigour, stony, clay-rich, shale-derived soils. Handpicked and sorted before pressing and fermentation in barrel. It is aged in 228 liters French oak for 8 months, 34% new and the rest is 2nd, 3rd and 4th use.
A tight, minerally wine with classic Hamilton Russell Vineyards length and complexity. Unusually prominent pear and lime fruit aromas and flavours are brought beautifully into focus by a tight line of bright natural acid and a long, dry minerality. An elegant, yet textured and intense wine with a strong personality of both place and vintage.
This has a vibrant nose of jasmine, grapefruit zest, sliced pear, buttered toast and smoked almonds. It’s medium-to full-bodied with bright acidity. Bright, zesty and spicy. Pretty almond notes on the finish. Drink now.
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The 2020 Chardonnay has a light bouquet with touches of honeysuckle and jasmine, well defined but in need of a little more presence. The palate is fresh and vibrant with fine acidity, quite zen-like, and steely and saline toward the finish. This is a much leaner style of Chardonnay from Hamilton Russell and I appreciate that, though I must confess that I found myself wishing for more extract, something for my senses to cling on to.
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